According to a recent poll, 38% of Brits are cooking more meals from scratch since the government imposed lockdown measures in the UK.
The poll, carried out by YouGov, also revealed that 42% of the 4,443 people who took part now value food and other essentials more than they did before the coronavirus pandemic arose.
Professor Tom MacMillan from the Royal Agricultural University and the research lead for the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) that commissioned the survey, said:
“People are trying new things and noticing differences at home, in their work and in communities.”
He added that this was especially true when it comes to food and farming, saying: “Alongside the emergency response, it is important to keep track of these changes in what we’re doing and our collective mood, to help shape the kind of country we want to be, including the way we want to feed ourselves when we recover from this pandemic.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his decision to shut all cafes, restaurants and bars from March 20 in a bid to help tackle the spread of coronavirus infections. Food deliveries and takeaways were not banned, but many popular food establishments such as McDonald’s, Burger King and Nando’s suspended their food delivery services soon after.
Fast food lovers across the country were devasted with one particular young girl from Chelmsford, Essex, being inconsolable. In a video clip that went viral, gathering over one million views, four-year-old Layla-Rae was devasted when her mum revealed that all her favourite restaurants, including McDonald’s and KFC, would be closed for the foreseeable future.
Fortunately, Layla-Rae and the rest of the country appear to have recovered from the fact that they can no longer simply head out to the nearest outlet for ready-to-eat food and have started to embrace “going back to basics.”
According to a study carried out by Tesco, 41% of participants are using family recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation to create comforting meals such as stews and casseroles during these stressful times.
Whereas, 34% now feel more relaxed when cooking, as they no longer have to rush about after work to create a family meal but can take their time and really enjoy the process.
Alessandra Bellini, chief customer officer at Tesco, said: “During these uncertain times it is really encouraging to see people turning to cooking to help bring them closer to family and friends, be that in real life or virtually. While we may not be able to physically be together at the moment, many are finding comfort in cooking, and we are delighted to see how families are coming together.”
The study also revealed that one in ten has indulged in a ‘virtual meal,’ which involves eating at the same time as someone else while on a video call with them. This digital trend has seen a massive surge in popularity since lockdown measures were introduced with Zoom birthday parties, Houseparty hangouts, and even virtual pubs popping up across the country to help people combat isolation and stay connected.
Athina Karatzogianni, a professor at the University of Leicester, explains how people need human interaction and contact in their lives and that virtual dinner parties can help them achieve this to a certain extent during lockdown. She said: “To maintain close relationships, you need mental effort and psychological effort to be with people in the same space, to break bread and share happy moments. And close relationships help maintain your wellbeing – it makes you happier.”
The YouGov poll also revealed that only 9% of Brits want life to return to “normal” after the coronavirus outbreak is over, with 61% spending less money, 51% noticing cleaner air outdoors, and 27% thinking more about wildlife than before.
Somewhat surprisingly, 39% revealed that they are catching up with family and friends more than they were prior to lockdown, and two-fifths said that they feel a stronger sense of community in their area.
More than half of participants hoped to make several changes in their own lives. They also hoped for the country as a whole to learn from the crisis.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the RSA, explained how “we must use this time to imagine a better future.”
He further said: “This poll shows that the British people are increasingly aware that the health of people and planet are inseparable and it’s time for radical environmental, social, political and economic change.”
The RSA is currently working on a plan of action for more sustainable food and farming, land use and the rural economy.
